Some foreigners do not need to apply for a Foreign Business License in order to do business In Thailand. It should be noted that if your foreign majority owned company only does exports from Thailand or manufacturing of goods in Thailand, you do not need to obtain a Foreign Business License. And if you are Australian or Japanese or American, you may not have to obtain a Foreign Business License but please read further:
Australia:
Thailand and Australia have Thai – Australia Free Trade Agreement. The persons who conduct the business according to the Foreign Business Act and who are under Thai – Australia Free Trade Agreement condition can request for the Business Operations Certificate from the Director-General of the Department of Business Development details of which are included in Guideline for Requesting Business Operations Certificate according to Section 10 of Foreign Business Acts B.E.2542 under Thai – Australia Free Trade Agreement
Here is the full version of Thai – Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Japan:
Since Thailandand Japanhave the JTEPA agreement, the persons who conduct the business according to the Foreign Business Act and who are under JTEPA condition can request for the Business Operations Certificate from the Director-General of the Department of Business Development details of which are included in Request for Business Operations Certificate under JTEPA.
Here is the full Japan – Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement.
USA:
Thailand and the USA signed the Treaty of Amity (the Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations between the Kingdom of Thailand and the United States of America) on 29 May 1966. Because of the Treaty of Amity, American citizens and American majority owned companies can operate their business in Thailand without having to have a Foreign Business License. However, they still have to request for the Business Operations Certificate from the Director-General of the Department of Business Development of the Ministry of Commerce,Thailand.
Here is the full version of Treaty of Amity between Thailand and U.S.A.
For more details on foreigners who do not need to apply for a Foreign Business License, please contact www.ThaiLawyers.com. We are part of MSNA Group.